TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – After two days of heated, emotional debate, hard questions, snippy answers, and a slew of "unfriendly amendments" shot down, the Florida House on Wednesday voted to let teachers carry guns on campus.

Rep. Erin Grall, R-Vero Beach, said words matter, especially in framing the terms of the debate over allowing teachers to have guns.

"There is a fundamental difference between arming teachers and allowing teachers to be armed," Grall said.

But Democrats criticized it as a foregone conclusion to put guns in the hands of more people after they worked so hard a year ago to take teachers out of last year's school safety measure.

Erin Grall(Photo: CONTRIBUTED PHOTO FROM ERIN GRALL)

"Last year after the shooting violence at Parkland, we heard from many, many people in unison, from teachers, parents, and other residents from around the state," Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando, said during Wednesday's three-hour debate. "They wanted to ban assault weapons, and didn't want to arm teachers."

Last year, after much debate, lawmakers compromised on a sweeping school safety measure crafted in the weeks following last year's Valentine's Day massacre.

"The carefully worded Marjory Stoneman Douglas legislation passed last year was the camel's nose under the tent," Smith said.

That "carefully crafted compromise" allowed school districts to start Guardian programs with their local county sheriff's office, which allowed for training school staff who had other duties besides teaching to carry a gun.

The state also provided $67 million in funding for training and school hardening against attacks, of which less than $10 million has been tapped. Currently, 25 school districts have Guardian programs in place.

This year's legislation expands the Guardian program to include teachers who ask to volunteer to carry a weapon on their school campus. Like last year's bill, teacher guardians would be required to have 142 hours of training, including eight hours of diversity training.

The bill also makes available more money for school security and mental health counseling. It also requires school safety reports.

Teachers and other eligible school staff members would have to pass a psychological evaluation, complete training by a sheriff's office and receive approval by the school district before they could carry a firearm into a public school.

Supporters argued the Parkland killings lasted fewer than six minutes while it took law enforcement 11 minutes to respond. Opponents warned about the unintended consequences of mixing guns into classrooms with children.

Efforts by members of the black caucus to add an additional eight hours of implicit bias training were shot down.

"My personal belief is that this will result in loss of life," Rep. Steve Geller, D-Hollywood, said. "I voted for the bill last time because there was so much good in it. The myth that a good guy with a gun is not what we need. Let's rely on law enforcement."

Senate President Bill Galvano and former Governor Jeb Bush give a thumbs up from the floor of the House of Representatives just before the body voted to approve a Senate bill to allow more students to use taxpayer-funded vouchers to attend private schools. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Former Governor Jeb Bush is introduced on the floor of the House of Representatives just before the body voted to approve a Senate bill to allow more students to use taxpayer-funded vouchers to attend private schools. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Speaker of the House JosŽ Oliva comes to the floor as the House of Representatives votes to approve a Senate bill to allow more students to use taxpayer-funded vouchers to attend private schools. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Former Governor Jeb Bush is introduced on the floor of the House of Representatives just before the body voted to approve a Senate bill to allow more students to use taxpayer-funded vouchers to attend private schools. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Senate President Bill Galvano and former Governor Jeb Bush give a thumbs up from the floor of the House of Representatives just before the body voted to approve a Senate bill to allow more students to use taxpayer-funded vouchers to attend private schools. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Former Governor Jeb Bush is introduced on the floor of the House of Representatives just before the body voted to approve a Senate bill to allow more students to use taxpayer-funded vouchers to attend private schools. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Ernie Bach, CEO of Florida Silver-Haired Legislature, expresses his opposition to Senate Bill 824 and House Bill 987 which would put regulation of vacation rentals in the hands of the state instead of local governments at the Capitol Wednesday, April 10, 2019. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Rep. Rene Plasencia, R-Orlando, brought a flu bug to a news conference for HB 111. The measure allows pharmacists to test and provide treatment for influenza and streptococcus. The House approved the measure Thursday 99 - 16. A Senate companion bill has yet to be heard. James Call

The Florida Senate takes a moment of silence in honor of Angela Drzewiecki, widow of Air Force Staff Sgt. Carl Enis who died in a helicopter crash in Western Iraq, wipes away tears as she and her late husband are recognized at the opening of the Florida Senate session Thursday, March 14, 2019. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat

Angela Drzewiecki, widow of Air Force Staff Sgt. Carl Enis who died in a helicopter crash in Western Iraq, fights back tears as she and her late husband are recognized at the opening of the Florida Senate session Thursday, March 14, 2019. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat

Angela Drzewiecki, widow of Air Force Staff Sgt. Carl Enis who died in a helicopter crash in Western Iraq, recites the pledge of allegiance opening of the Florida Senate session Thursday, March 14, 2019. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat

Senator Bill Montford recognizes Angela Drzewiecki, widow of Air Force Staff Sgt. Carl Enis who died in a helicopter crash in Western Iraq, at the opening of the Florida Senate session Thursday, March 14, 2019. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat

Senate President Pro Tempore David Simmons discusses new education legislation that will be introduced during the 2019 legislative session in front of the Senate chamber Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Florida State University music student Garrett Evers sings the National Anthem in the Senate chambers during the opening day of session for the Florida Legislature Tuesday, March 5, 2019. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Gov. Ron DeSantis enters the House of Representatives chambers where he will gives his State of the State address during the opening day of session for the Florida Legislature Tuesday, March 5, 2019. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Members of the Florida Supreme Court sit together in front of the Senate chambers during the opening day of session for the Florida Legislature Tuesday, March 5, 2019. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Gov. Ron DeSantis enters the House of Representatives chambers where he will gives his State of the State address during the opening day of session for the Florida Legislature Tuesday, March 5, 2019. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Senate President Bill Galvano and other members of the Senate enter the House of Representatives chambers during the opening day of session for the Florida Legislature Tuesday, March 5, 2019. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to the press after giving his State of the State address during the opening day of session for the Florida Legislature Tuesday, March 5, 2019. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Children are welcomed to the front of the chambers for the Pledge of Allegiance during the opening day of session for the Florida Legislature Tuesday, March 5, 2019. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Senate President Bill Galvano and other members of the Senate enter the House of Representatives chambers during the opening day of session for the Florida Legislature Tuesday, March 5, 2019. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to the press after giving his State of the State address during the opening day of session for the Florida Legislature Tuesday, March 5, 2019. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

A student from Tampa Bay Technical High school is recognized during Gov. Ron DeSantis' State of the State address during the opening day of session for the Florida Legislature Tuesday, March 5, 2019. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Gov. Ron DeSantis shakes hands with Senate President Bill Galvano after giving his State of the State address during the opening day of session for the Florida Legislature Tuesday, March 5, 2019. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Julie Galvano, wife of Senate President Bill Galvano, stands as she is recognized during the opening day of session for the Florida Legislature Tuesday, March 5, 2019. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Sen. Bill Montford greets Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried as they enter the Senate chambers during the opening day of session for the Florida Legislature Tuesday, March 5, 2019. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Carol (Greenlee) Crawley, daughter of Charles Greenlee, one of the men in the Groveland Four pardoned by Gov. Ron DeSantis, stands as she is recognized during the opening day of session for the Florida Legislature Tuesday, March 5, 2019. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Senate President Bill Galvano and President Pro Tempore David Simmons stand and applaud as Gov. Ron DeSantis gives his State of the State address during the opening day of session for the Florida Legislature Tuesday, March 5, 2019. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Senate President Bill Galvano and President Pro Tempore David Simmons stand and applaud as Gov. Ron DeSantis gives his State of the State address during the opening day of session for the Florida Legislature Tuesday, March 5, 2019. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

House Speaker JosŽ Oliva and House Speaker Pro Tempore MaryLynn Magar stand and applaud as Gov. Ron DeSantis gives his State of the State address during the opening day of session for the Florida Legislature Tuesday, March 5, 2019. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Florida State University music student Garrett Evers sings the National Anthem in the Senate chambers during the opening day of session for the Florida Legislature Tuesday, March 5, 2019. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat